This entire issue is devoted to Faustino Pérez Manglano. Why? So as to recall the witness that he is for many young people: as you can read here, a growing number of groups are finding inspiration in his life. But also because he is an intercessor and a support for many young people in their reflection about their life choices; an intercessor and a support for us in our vocation ministry. March 3rd of this year marked the anniversary of his death; while we are awaiting his recognition as “Venerable” by the Church, let us allow the young people to show us his influence and his help! May they also respond with a YES to the call! André Fétis, sm

WITH FAUSTINO PÉREZ MANGLANO

FAUSTINO AND VOCATIONS José María Salaverri, sm

On March 3, 1963, Faustino was feeling very ill. It was Sunday. I took him Communion in the morning and in the afternoon I returned “to give him some requests for heaven.” “Faustino, since you are soon going to heaven, I want to give you some requests for there.” “It’s never failed us, Father!” I gave him four requests, one of them being: “Faustino, you would have liked to have been a Marianist and a missionary…. I want to ask you that from heaven you help other persons in their vocation.” He was suffering and clutching in his hand a medal of the Virgin: - “Of course!”

And he did it. I have a large file of letters that tell me about vocations that took root in the reading of his life. Out of these encounters, some jelled, others did not, although I don’t know about the majority of them. Marianist vocations? Some, but there is something of everything here. Boys and girls. Contemplatives and actives. From different countries. In 1999 I published a book The Loaves and Fishes of Faustino (translated into French and Polish) with the most interesting letters received about Faustino. Two whole chapters are about vocation. I have continued to receive more and, confidentiality permitting, I will put something on the Webpage.

These letters are probably no more than the tip of a vocational iceberg. Normally, the majority of those who have read the life of Faustino and have felt a vocation being born or firmed up do not bother to write to the author of the book. Faustino sows and helps: that is the important thing.

“He cleared up my doubts about what a vocation is” - “Like Faustino I feel a great desire to serve…. I believe I would be a good Sister.” - “He gave wings again to my vocation” - “Providentially I came to know Faustino. I am 27 years old… I feel that the Lord is calling me.” - “His presence in my vocation has been real, but discrete….” - “I was just ordained a diocesan priest. Faustino attracted me since my second year of BUP [Unified and Polyvalent Baccalaureate].” - “It is ten years since I came by chance upon Perhaps God is Speaking to Me. I was 16 years old…. Faustino continued to haunt me…. Today I am a Sister.” - “Faustino was an important and inspiring figure at the beginning of my vocation” - … and there is quite a long “etcetera.”

The vast majority of those who wrote had “met” Faustino while very young. Today vocations are said to arise later in life… and we are in danger of neglecting the vocational seed in adolescence and in preadolescence. My experience is that at ten years of age many are able to grasp the vocational message of Faustino, even if the results are not seen until much later. His example remains like a seed and if it is cultivated a bit it can flower.

I often ask myself: are we Marianists, and the Marianist Family in general, conscious of the treasure which the Virgin has given us in Faustino?

P. Salaverri, sm 1

Zambia 2

France 3

Brasil ; Chile 4

Haiti 5

Canada; Ivory Coast 6

Switzerland 7

News briefs 8

IN THIS ISSUE:

Next issue:June 2010

Please send me news and photos of your a c t i v i t i e s , suggestions of texts, of documents, of websites…. Thank you! (genrelsm@smcuria.it)

N° 3 MARCH 2010

Via Latina 22

00179 ROMA (IT)

SOCIETE DE MARIE SOCIETY OF MARY

COMPAÑA DE MARIA

The Faustino group was initiated in 2006. We work in collaboration with our Marianist Brothers.

1. FAUSTINO PÉREZ-MANGLANO MAGRO Through his diary, one can see the work of the Holy Spirit in his soul, totally dedicated to the Lord. We also might learn how to say YES at the right moments in our life. In his life FOUR YESES are decisive:

• A debt of rosaries: Say the rosaries as many times as possible

• If God will speak to me: Communicate to God by silent meditation

• Suffering: to be more faithfully in the accomplishment of our duties without being overcome by discouragement when we suffer.

• Death: Help be prepared and let death come when and where God wills it

It is not necessary to be older to be interested in the church vocation. Faustino was a young boy and went into the vocation at a very tender age and died just before his vows of becoming a priest. 2. OUR MISSION STATEMENT To form a group of junior youths well formed and guided by the mission of Christ and official social teachings of the Catholic Church and the Faustino YESES so as to advocate for the sainthood of Faustino. 3. OBJECTIVES · To deepen our faith and life experience by following the essence of the FOUR YESES · To strengthen the junior youths through both spiritual and social activities · To ensure effective communication, promote cooperation and networking at all levels enabling the

exchange of ideas and experiences within ourselves and other junior youths of the society. · To help the youths to have the courage to speak and act in the name of Gods and social teachings

as practiced by Faustino so as to face the challenges of today. · To visit and help the vulnerable persons in the society · To open a web page to advocate for the Sainthood

of Faustino 4. MEMBERSHIP Membership is open to all junior catholic youths who are in 5th Grade and above and have received the sacrament of Holy Communion. We have a membership of more than 60 members. 5. PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES Our programs are based on the spiritual, economical and social status of our environment. They are divided into three categories: 5.1 SPIRITUAL PROGRAMMES

5.1.1 EnrolmentEvery twice a year, we have enrolment Thanks Giving Mass with also the renewal of vows - this motivates and strengthens those that are already enrolled. 5.1.2 Retreats (Every year we have at least two retreats). 5.1.3 Church Visitations The Faustino group is the only group in Zambia. We plan to inculcate the Faustino YESES and to introduce this group to other catholic parishes and schools, also through youth media programs (radio, TV, any other institution). 5.1.4 Annual Youth Pilgrimage to Shrine 5.1.5 Catechism—Most of our members have not received the sacrament of confirmation. It is our duty to motivate one another to commence the catechism lesson on confirmation.

5.1.6 Workshops/seminars,especially in Behavioral Change. The programs include: Personality Development; Spirituality; Creativity; Moral Development; Socio-Cultural; Peer Group; School Violence; What is Conflict; Career choices; HIV/AIDS

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St Joseph Faustino GroupEmail: faustinogroup@yahoo.com

ZAMBIAMatero Boys – Lusaka

VOCSM 3 3

5.2 CHARITY ACTIVITIES: Hospices or Orphanages visitationsOur group has underlined the importance of sharing whatever little they have to those that do not have. We have managed to donate a few basic necessities and educational materials.

5.3 SOCIAL PROGRAMMES: Sports Festivals.football, basketball, volleyball, chess, debate, quiz etc between our members and other youths not necessarily catholic. GROUP COORDINATOR LINDA MUKUTU AND BRO. DANIEL ODERO

AMIS DE FAUSTINO & JEUNES DE LA FAMILLE MARIANISTEThe movement of the “Friends of Faustino” was born in the 1990’s at Colmar and then in Antony, Bordeaux and Saint-Dié in order to support young people in their Christian life. Its pedagogy is based upon common activities, but also upon meeting with an adult of the Marianist Family (often a religious) for a regular personal dialogue, like Faustino who allowed himself to be guided in his personal and Christian life. The very flexible and infrequent activities aim at allowing the majority of these young people to remain in the Christian groups to which they already belong (choir, Scouts, charity teams,…) and to strengthen their missionary role. After the beatification of Fr. Chaminade, this group was combined with the newly originated group of Youth of the Marianist Family: the JFM. These latter meet for common activities in each of the places mentioned, but also for national gatherings in the course of the year or in the summer. They involve about 200 young people from 15 to 25. An annual consecration-alliance with Mary is proposed for those who desire it. Animation is provided by members of all the Marianist Family. Faustino has remained a living and inspiring example for the movement. In August 2003, the national gathering of the JFM took place in Valencia in Faustino’s hometown, where it was possible to meet his mother, along with Fr. Salaverri. Next summer, the gatherings will take place in the Vosges

The Faustinos of Lusaka, prepare for an Annual Youth pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine.

Abbaye of Acey 2009 12

Rome—2008 08

Lourdes

FRANCE

Grupo Faustino We are a group that seeks to respond to the needs of

the Church and of youth. Our members are teenagers between the ages of 11 and 18 who want to have an experience of Jesus and Mary, as did Faustino Pérez-Manglano. We seek to live the faith through community life, forming small groups according to the age of

each participant.

We start from the pastoral plan of the Movimiento Faustino of the Marianist schools in Chile, adapted to the Brazilian parochial situation. Activities include four dimensions: Formative, Spiritual, Ecclesial and Social. We organize them in four stages, working through group dynamics and times of prayer. We began in 2009 and are relying upon a community, currently animated by two boys and twelve girls, around age 12, meeting every Saturday evening.

MOVIMIENTO FAUSTINOThe Movimiento Faustino is the integrated/diversified teenage pastoral project of the educational works of the Marianist Family of Chile. It includes adolescents and youths between the ages of 11 and 18. The Movimiento Faustino normally leads to the prospect of entry into the Movimiento Marianista at the Youth Level. The members of the Movimiento Faustino propose to

identify themselves with the youthful face of Christ and to walk with Mary, going through a faith development that leads them to be better Christians, to live a life of fraternal service and to take on a sense of mission for their lives. Faustino is an important reference point in the process of formation. The Movimiento Faustino is structured into four stages, fitting the psychological and spiritual characteristics of age and grade level, with a gradation of content in formation, in personal engagement and in services to others. Followers I and II: (ages 11 and 12), Friends I and II (ages 13 and 14), Servants I and II (ages 15 and 16), and Missionaries (age 17). At the end of this stage entry into the Youth Level of the Movimiento Marianista is encouraged. They meet weekly in stage-level communities, supported by animators. The latter come from the older faustinos, as a part of their commitment, and they continue on later as ex-students, ex-faustinos, supporting the Movimiento and carrying out in it their missionary service. Adults also collaborate. Each step has a moderator who coordinates and helps in the preparation of the meetings.Currently the Movimiento Faustino is active in the four Marianist schools of Chile and gathers 750 young people in 85 communities with 180 animators, many of them members of adult communities. Important activities are: workshops for formation of animators, retreats for animators, Vigil of Pentecost, celebration of Faustino and summer camps. The older members share with other groups in summer missions and volunteer activities during the year. Much of the work of animation is oriented by the pastoral principle: young people evangelizing young people. Hence, a real concern is the formation of the animators, their human and Christian maturity, and the strengthening of their commitment in the final stage of the Movimiento, from which one can

4

CHILE

BRASIL

A work of the Marianist Family For the past seven years various Faustino groups have been active in Haiti. This movement is animated jointly by the Marianist Family, since 2005 by a national committee of three members: Myriam (CLM), Brother Chevalier (SM) and Brother Hervé (SM). This National Committee assures the formation of the animators of the movement, most of them members of CLM groups.

To evangelize children through childrenThe movement was born to respond to the numerous needs of the children of Haiti, especially through support for their Christian and social life. It joins Christian activities – some typically Marianist – to other educational activities to favor the spirit of solidarity among them, as well as manual dexterity. The children can pass on what they have learned to other children as well as to their families; thus they have an evangelizing role at their own level. Faustino is the living model of this group; posters illustrating his life are often used at the meetings. One of the objectives of the movement is to teach the children to discern how their behavior contributes to the building up or the tearing down of the country.

Faustino, the way of the GospelEvery weekend there are meetings by age groups: 6-9, 10-12, and 12-15 years. A meeting most often includes a prayer, a period of animation, a moment of formation (using the example of Faustino, the gospel of the Sunday, or sharing about something that has happened), and then a final prayer. Summer camps are organized each year.

There have been regular contacts with the young people of the Marianist Family (JFM) of France, especially those of Saint-Dié (Vosges) and of Belfort.

There are groups in at least five places: Port-au-Prince, Hinche, Pilette (where there is also a school begun by the Marianist Family), Cap Haitien and Croix-des-Bouquets. There are about 300 members and 30 animators.

In the tragic events of January 12, all the children of the groups of Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets were affected in one way or another. One of the children died, many lost their homes or a member of their family. They are now scattered throughout various emergency camps. The solidarity of the Marianist Family has begun to bring help to those affected.

May Faustino watch over them and over all the children of Haiti and their families!

Zanmi Fostino (in Creole)

THE FRIENDS OF FAUSTINO MOVEMENT or MAF

Port-au-Prince

With Myriam, National coordinator

Pilette (North)

5

HAITI

In Ivory Coast the Friends of Faustino Movement (MAF) exists in several parishes and at the Marian Shrine of Abidjan. A Charter lays out the objectives of the Movement and a Committee proposes activities for the various groups.

FAUSTINO IN SAINT PIERRE OF YOPOUGON

In 2006 the JFM (Young Marianist Fraternity) of Saint Pierre de Yopougon, wanting to have a base of recruitment in their parish, decided to establish a children’s section.

After a year we were accepted into the children’s commission of the parish. Our working documents were “An Injection of Energy” and, from Father José-María Salaverri: Perhaps God is Speaking to Me,The Four Yeses of Faustino …. We were assisted by Marianist Brother Hervé Dagbo. Now the group has more than 20 members, led by 4 animators, with 3 spiritual assistants: Brother Perier Frantzy, the main

leader in charge of the MAF, Brother Claudel Noël, andNovice Christophe Mbonde. From now on we are recognized under the name of the Friends of Faustino Movement (M.A.F.).

FAUSTINO AT THE MARIAN SHRINE OF ABIDJAN

Created on June 7, 2009 by Bro. Wolfgang Adela, , the “Faustino” Group of the Marian

Shrine includes 15 youth aged 5 to 14 with 3 animators. The group meets every Saturday. Its purpose is to teach its members to understand that,

e v e n though small, they can have a spiritual life after the example of Faustino. It intends to show the children how to welcome Mary into their lives and how to attain to the light of Christ.

FAUSTINO IN THE PARISH OF SAINT LAURENT OF YOPOUGON

The Friends of Faustino Movement originated in 2007. It counts today 30 children and 3 animators. They meet every Sunday after the 11:00 o’clock Children’s Mass, divided according to age groups.

Since about a dozen years, and even more since the presence of the Marianist Family in Haiti (and the development of the Faustino

Movement), there has been an interest in Faustino in Quebec. A group of children, animated by a leader from the MLC, the “Friends of Faustino,” had been in existence for several years around the Centre Saint-Henri, but now has momentarily stopped. Brother Jean-Charles Casista, SM, has edited pictures and put together a montage about Faustino which he was able to present several times. A comic book on Faustino has been produced, a Franciscan priest gave a conference, documents are available to visitors to the Centre. Many seeds cast into the earth to produce a harvest!

CANADA

IVORY COAST

6

LE MOUVEMENT DES AMIS DE FAUSTINO FRIENDS OF FAUSTINO MOVEMENT

We can note two events in relation to Faustino. In 1994 the Mass servers of Martigny put on a theatre piece in the church of Martigny-Bourg. We adapted the text to the level of understanding of the servers’ ages, 10-15. Unfortunately the departure of the Marianist religious from Martigny did not allow the youngsters to follow up that activity in other parishes of the

surroundings. More than fifteen years later, I made contact with them in order to learn what remained with them from that experience.

As I receive news about the process of beatification of Faustino, I put it on line on the website of the Marianist Family of Switzerland (www.marianistes.ch). This is our primary effort to make known the life of this young man in our region. (jpf)

Switzerland

FAUSTINO IN THE PARISH OF SAINT JOSEPH OF YOPOUGON

The Friends of Faustino Movement has been here since 2006. Animation is assured by two animators. It includes 13 children and 9 new members. They meet each Saturday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Sometimes they put on programs for children on the National Catholic Radio (RNC).

FAUSTINO IN THE PARISH OF SAINT JEAN-BAPTISTE OF ABOBO

This children’s group was founded by the JFM of the parish in 2008. It has 35 members; they divide into small groups for the meetings. They meet every Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with their two animators.

IVORY COAST (2)

7

SOCIETE DE MARIE - SOCIETY OF MARY - COMPAÑA DE MARIA

Via Latina, 22 - 00179 ROMA (IT) genrelsm@smcuria.it

Next issue: June 2010

Please do not hesitate to send me news and photos of your activities, suggestions of texts, of documents, of websites….

This bulletin is yours, ours. Thank you! (genrelsm@smcuria.it)

HAITI— AMIS DE FAUSTINO

MARIANIST MATERIAL

FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATION (25 APRIL 2010)

In its last meeting (November 2009), the World Council of the Marianist Family considered our efforts as a Marianist Family at encouraging vocations to all the branches. It plans to provide materials each year at

the time of the universal Church’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations that would provide a particularly Marianist reflection for this day.

This material will be provided this year by the SM. It will be available soon ! For the SM it will be sent to the Unit Superiors.

On November 5 the UD vocation office hosted an event titled: "Celibate, Poor, Obedient...and Stable? Following Christ as a Marianist Religious." Bro. Sean Downing welcomed everyone and stated that many of the students in attendance have been at our communities for Eucharist and dinner and know us well. But we thought we would host an event to talk about our vows and what they mean and how we live the vows as a pathway to a joyful life. Fr. Chris Wittmann, SM, and Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, were the main presenters of the program. Both talked about the joys and the struggles of vowed religious life. Both emphasized the life-giving aspect of the vows in that vowed religious do give up many of the comforts of marriage, wealth and independence. However, we gain the freedom to pray and minister to others which is a very rewarding life. The event included a pasta dinner and small group discussions. Thanks. Bro. Sean R. Downing, SM (Regional Vocation Office - Dayton, OH)

NEWS IN BRIEF... "Celibate, Poor, Obedient...and Stable?

Following Christ as a Marianist Religious." A Vocation Event in Dayton.

8

France Haiti Zambia - renewal of vows

Bro Tim Mazundah and Dan Klco, SM with UD students Sr Nicole Trahan, FMI and Fr Chris Wittmann, SM

Some of the many students in attendance